Reginald Herbert Secretan, known as Reggie, was born in Ewell, Surrey in 1895 and baptised on Saturday, 10th August, at St Mary’s church in the same year. He was the youngest child of Herbert Edwin Secretan and Mary Richardson who had four children together. The children were: Humphrey Basil, Marjorie, Esme and Reggie. Reginald's brother Humphrey served with the Royal West Surrey Regiment and was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry. Although badly wounded in the conflict he survived the War.

Reggie’s father Herbert was an ‘Underwriter’ for the Marine Insurance Company and as a result, could afford to give Reggie and his older brother a good private education. Reggie initially attended school at Hildersham House, in Broadstairs, Kent, before following his brother to Oundle School in Northamptonshire. At Oundle, Reggie, although not academically gifted, excelled at sport and was made Head of House. He also served in the school’s Officer Training Corp, reaching the rank of Corporal by the time he left in the Summer of 1914.

On the outbreak of war, Reggie immediately volunteered but his short-sightedness meant that he could not gain a commission. Indeed, this initially prevented his enlistment and he made continued and determined efforts to find a Regiment that would accept his services. On eight occasions he was rejected before finally enlisting with the Army Service Corps (A.S.C.) as a dispatch and motor driver at a Private’s rank.

He went to France on the 29th December 1914 and for the next eighteen months served as a dispatch rider. Eventually however, and due to the high attrition of junior officers, Reggie was able to gain a commission and returned home to train. He completed his officer training at Gailes in Ayrshire and was finally granted his commission on the 18th December 1916. He was discharged from the A.S.C. and transferred to his new unit, 8 Platoon, 1/1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment. He was immediately send overseas and he joined his new unit on the 3rd February 1917 at Ypres. His time at the Front leading his men was to be tragically short and he fell during the Battalion’s first major engagement of the year.

On the 31st July, the 1/1st Hertfordshires attacked Pilckem Ridge, north of Ypres, on the opening day of what became the Third Battle of Ypres. The fighting was difficult and bloody and on this day 429 casualties were incurred by the Regiment. These included 2nd Lieutenant Secretan.

Reggie was killed on Tuesday, 31st July 1917.

Following his death an obituary, originally published in ‘The Times’, was re-published in the Hemel Gazette.

He was commemorated on the Leverstock Green village War Memorial.

Reggie is Remembered with Honour on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium, Panel 54 and 56.

He was 22 years old when he died.

Reggie was eligible for the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Allied Victory Medal.